Bit annoyed - what shall I say to tenants?

[loopydoo]

Hi - our tenants (who are very lovely) text me to tell me about a heating prob with house. We manage the house ourselves and have a plumber who will do the work for us.

The text was early last week so I called plumber and gave tenants numbers so could arrange appointment.

So - tenants then said they had not heard so I gave them the number for plumber to arrange.

Tonight - tenant text saying they have arranged for him to come tomorrow!!! now, we'll have to pay a sunday call-out charge so I'm annoyed that they didn't arrange when they first said about it.

DH says they're nice people so don't worry but I want them to know they can't just book an emergency plumber on a whim - how do I tell them - a nicely worded letter?

Londonlottie - I think like anything it's give and take.

if the tenant wants it sorted quick and is able to take a day off work, and is consulted over the best time - great.

But I had a land-lady who used to do things like send people around to do routine maintenance and expect me to stay in and supervise them. She'd phone at short notice and say "he'll be around 10am Monday" and I'd have to run about like a blue-arsed fly rearranging work. Then I'd get a call on Monday morning saying "oh he can't come until Tuesday".

Needless to say, I didn't stay there long.

Sometimes I agree though it's better all round for the tenant to stay in. If it's something like an intermittent fault on the washing machine, you probably want the tenant there to explain what happens in case it does play up on the day.

I think tenants are generally reasonable and landlords are generally reasonable but a little give and take goes a long way.

Loopydoo's tenants have sorted the problem and saved her a trip to sort it out - great. I don't think a telling off after the event will improve matters. Far better to wait until something recurs and then say "you're welcome to schedule it for yourself but could you not make it a Sunday as we'll get a call-out charge - is that ok?" and see what they say.

There's no point in raising hackles now after the issue has passed.

Londonlottie - you're right.

Our tenants are lovely and the wife is a SAHM so it seems a little unecessary for me to drive 80 miles when she is there most days.

I don't think anyone was saying you were being unreasonable in asking Looby.

Just that all that stuff about writing notes and threatening to split the charges seemed totally OTT and aggressive. They may not even have known there was an extra charge.

I think all people were saying is, try and see it from their POV. You asked them arrange it - they did. You can't tick them off about the hows and whys after the event.

Glad you have decided not to send the note anyway.

More than a couple of days without heating or hot water at this time of year is a major pain. After a few days in our new rented house the boiler broke down and to their credit the agents were onto the problem straight away, including a Sunday visit from British Gas. Boiler turned out to have died, and within a few days a nice new combi was installed. But that shouldn't be exceptional, that's what tenants should expect.

Your tenants are paying rent to have decent living conditions.
Just be glad they didn't ask for money off the rent, or to be put up in a hotel or something!

As you don't employ an agency, I'm afraid it was up to you to check the plumber had been in touch.

I always give my tenants the option if arranging appointments themselves, as they may prefer to be in, out, whatever. If they just say 'whenever' I take them at their word. Depending on what is happening I may or may not go too (1.5 hrs to flat), routine gas check then no, looking at re-plumbing bathroom (for example) then yes.

I don't employ an agent as I don't work and am happy to organise stuff, DH can fix most things and I know reliable tradesmen for those things he can't. Agents round our way wanted 15%, which seemed a joke for making the odd call.